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Reconnecting... No wait. Connecting with Active Rain

I've been away from posting on Active Rain for eleven months. So long, that every link in my profile was wrong. So long that my avatar was outdated. So long, that I forgot how to post here. But the truth is, I was never really here, even when I was here. I think it's kind of funny that the folks here at Active Rain gave me this badge. I guess it's time to start living up to it.

A Brief Introduction

I've been blogging in the real estate industry since January of 2005. I created lenderama, Denver Modern, Lucid Ninja, and at least a dozen blogs that failed. Over the years, I've contributed to the Inman blog, The Real Estate Tomato, Realty Blogging, and most importantly The Real Estate Weenie. I currently write for REALTOR Magazine's Speaking of Real Estate Blog. I'm also the host of REBarCamp.com, the online home to a grassroots real estate focused unconference.

Now, I'm the Manager of Social Media for the National Association of REALTORS. I'm helping the association to communicate more effectively on social media platforms like twitter and facebook. But with so many REALTORs here on Active Rain, it's high time that I start participating in the one social network, dedicated to our members. So here I am.

Connect With Me

I'm on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and more. More importantly, I really want to connect with you face to face. I'll be in San Francisco the first week of August for RE BarCamp SF and Inman Connect. If you see me, come say hi. I'm also doing a webinar for REALTOR Magazine with Doug Divitri and Mariana Wagner for agents just getting into social media. If you're new to the game, I hope to see you there.

Can I Get Your Advice?

Okay, so back to my early point of never really connecting here. I tried a few times, but never really had to much success. So let me put it to you. What would you like from me? How can I best contribute to this community? I'm all ears.

Posted by Todd Carpenter on 07/06/2009 08:39 PM

Comments (60)

60 Comments on Reconnecting... No wait. Connecting with Active Rain

JUL

The more you get the word out about Active Rain the better. You are in a good position to do that.

Social media skills . . . and you dare leave Active Rain for 11 months! Oh the shame! Well . . . I'm glad you're back. The NAR has some social issues right now . . . with members and the general public (blaming Realtor(s)) so I don't envy your position, and good luck! Has the Realtor(r) magazine done an article about Active Rain yet? If not . . . that's what I want from you.

;-)

Todd, if you're "all ears," then share what you're hearing "out there." Conditions can change so fast that it's difficult for those in real estate related businesses to keep up. Help us all stay informed and then you can share what you learn here with others. Welcome back.

Todd- This is an awesome opportunity for members to not only learn some of the great knowledge that NAR has on Social Media, but also a great way for them to voice their needs & concerns about social media with you.

To our members, please take advantage of this awesome opportunity to learn straight from NAR on social media and what the future entails.

Todd! We follow each other on Twitter! Nice to see your post here! 11 months is a long time to be away!

How fortunate for us to have the Manager of Social Networking join us on AR. Please subscribe to my blog, and I'll subscribe to yours. One thing you'll find here in the Rain is that people WILL speak their minds. I agree with Carla -- get the word out about AR. And, I'll be thinking of more suggestions for you. Welcome back!

Whoa! What happened to my post! Ugh! Don't know what happened! But that was my post up there! O I realized it was because I was not logged in! Duh! That was me above mentioning that we follow each other on Twitter. And it was nice to find your post here! And that 11 months was a long time for you to be away! Glad you're back! And glad that I'm logged in now!

The inside scoop of what's happening NOW on your side of the fence as it pertains to our industry, like 'how are you going to help us with HVCC' and stuff like that would be really helpful.

Todd, welcome to Activerain! LOL

I think it is good you are here, this is where most folks start blogging and learning about social media. So your imput will be greatly appreciated.

So glad I have met you many times IRL.

Welcome back tcar, I follow you on other sites and know you have much to offer here. I am glad you came back. Make this another one of your daily ventures and we will all benefit!

Todd - Awesome ! Thanks for coming by here again. Will definitely look forward to your updates and contributions. Have heard many great things about you so you have a great reputation out there in the RE 2.0 world !

Todd, great to see you back! I've heard people comment on what a good move it was for NAR to hire you. My blogging career is only about 6 months old but it's been a great time and honestly, Active Rain is the best resource out there for so many topics releveant to our business. What do I want from you? Share what NAR is doing for us, what you are doing for NAR, keep us 'in the loop!'

Thanks,

Sharon

nice post!

I really appreciate the fact that you've returned to re-evaluate and participate in AR.

It's the one place where I feel like I constantly learn and can at the same time get my own information out to the public and members. Shoot, I learn about important things here before I ever hear it on the mainstream news sources. Of course twitter and such is like that too.

Teach us your Social Media expertise, alert us to new things, and simply participate. We can learn a lot from you.

If you can show us the relevance of Twitter and Facebook to a Realtors business that would really help. I have recently started on Facebook and have also built several business pages there, and I can see the advantage of staying in touch with friends, but I am not too sure the relevance to attracting new clients.

I would like to know if NAR is going to be talking to government officials about recifying the mortgage industry so they will free up money so more people will be afforded the opportunity to buy a home.

Todd, The question to you is what can you do for us. Here on the rain it has been a common rant that NAR is behind the times, that NAR is hindering not helping realtors technology ability, that NAR's realtor.com is a dinosaur and is only a money maker not helping the average realtor. So the key is how are you going to help the average realtor on the street by making technology availability to the realtor/consumer easier than money making sites like Zillow and Trulia. NAR site should be the leader not a has been. Money and good web designer is needed to upgrade realtor.com quickly before it is too late.

The realtors here on active rain already know the power of social media, and blogging. We are looking for major improvements from NAR to truly support it no hinder it. You and NAR are behind the times and it is going to be hard to catch up.

The web, blogging and social media is the future. Glad you could join us.

Todd, welcome back. Cool avatar!! You must either love comics or truly are a superhero yourself.

Russ,

NAR does not run REALTOR.com. Move runs it. So upgrades to that site aren't something I will be privy to. However, NAR is building several resources that will allow REALTORs to to better market online on their own web sites. Some of this stuff is coming right around NAR Annual. To me, that's where any agent wants to focus anyway. On making their website/blog the best possible resource for their consumers.

Todd, you can read posts and comments to soak up what's happening in our world, and then communicate what you learn to the dinosaurs at NAR. Hey, I'm not talking age, I'm talking state of mind! You can educate them that real estate is done differently now in the field than it was 20+ years ago when they learned the business, before they moved into their ivory towers.

We're counting on you, Todd!

I agree with a lot of what Russ had to say. It seems like NAR is a bit behind the times and not as much behind us as we'd like.

Glad to see you are back, Todd. I think it would be useful for NAR members to hear more about what NAR has to say about social media and what they can offer their consitutents - the value of SM, classes, marketing, etc. But it would also be interesting to get their take on the trends for the future, but without goobledegook/corporate speak. At the same time this is an opportunity to educate NAR on the realities of the market from the trenches, something which I'm not sure they always seem to recognize.

Jeff

To help convince the NAR that agents are the driving force behind change in the industry, not their brokers, and to support their tech endeavors.

Wow..Talk About Google Juice..You're got AR Juice, away for 11 months and on your return you get featured. congratulations on your Gold Star ! Did they have them 11 months ago?

Cheers, welcome home, Keep Posting daily..nothing lie fresh content for Google :O))

JUL

Hi Todd - I'd like to see other areas of NAR, like the REALTOR® Action Center, actively engaging agents and the public with social media. There is a ton of misinformation about HR 2454 on the airwaves and in the blogosphere, including right here on ActiveRain. Most of it centers on 'mandatory federal energy audtis when selling a home', which NAR's Govt Affairs office has debunked in their Myths and Facts memo. I know they're on Facebook and Twitter, but it seems like we have to find them rather than them making an effort to connect with us.

"What would you like from me?"

Um totally frickin' loaded question Dude. But then again, that's just how you rock it. ;-)

Good to see you making your rounds.... :-)

Okay, I just typed out a long RANT and decided it would be best not to publish my comments.

Suffice it to say that many of us feel unrepresented by NAR and ripped off by realtor.com. (BTW, why is it that WE PAY for the NAME but they get to use it and CHARGE US again and again for it?)

Hi Todd, you've got a big job ahead of you!

I'd love to see you get the word out to more agents about how to use Active Rain and how to effectively communicate via social networks. We work with many agents who know they need to be a part of these networks but honestly have no idea how to make the kinds of connections they need. There's so much agents can do in a short amount of time to gain knowledge, share ideas and grow their business if they only knew how. Instead, many spend their days spinning their wheels instead of taking the necessary steps to move forward.

Good luck to you!

Welcome back .......no doubt you've got lots to share with all of us and vice versa. I'll follow you and you follow me. I look forward to seeing how you can show me how facebook, twitter etc really, really brings in biz. Active Rain does.

I won't even get into the NAR conversatin.......I'm glad you're here now!

I understand the feeling well Todd. Been off duty from Active Rain for a year or so as well. It's changed a bunch from when I first joined. We had 6000 on Active Rain at that time.

Todd,

Wasn't here 11 months ago, so it is nice to meet you. Somewhat cynical by nature, I'm sure hoping NAR's presence at AR won't be of a policing nature but of the very positive contribution you indicate. If so, prepare to be inundated...

Welcome back to AR. It's good to know that NAR is trying to get behind social networking. Keep up the good work.

Stay connected would be my thought!

Patricia

First, I look forward to meeting you in San Fran at Inman. As to what do I want? Unvarnished opinions.

Hi Todd,

I wasn't on AR when you last posted, but glad to have you back!

NAR provides information, training, and government affairs, but I'm not sure they promote the industry effectively. How are they educating the general public about the industry? Can they help to regionalize information more strategically to frame the reality of different markets around the country? Social networks set at a regional level from a perceived authority such as NAR may help consumers realize what's happening in their part of the country vs. others. The national media (which goes directly into local publications) has a 5,000 ft. view of real estate. Like politics, it's really all local. The market in Oregon is vastly different from the market in Florida, but it's a challenge getting people to realize that.

Looking forward to your contributions!

"I'm sure hoping NAR's presence at AR won't be of a policing nature"

Irene, I have a ninja avatar. Do I look like the police? :p

"Suffice it to say that many of us feel unrepresented by NAR and ripped off by realtor.com. (BTW, why is it that WE PAY for the NAME but they get to use it and CHARGE US again and again for it?)"

Tim or Susan, many many years ago, NAR signed an evergreen contract with Move to allow them to use the realtor.com url in exchange for them building a national online platform where REALTORs could place their listings on the Internet for free (at least, a basic listing). NAR did this because frankly, they didn't know how to build such a platform at the time. It's true that Move charges REALTOR's for featured listings. But your annual NAR dues of $80 do not go to fund REALTOR.com (Move does), and you get to list your home there with a basic listing for free.

IMO. If I were a REALTOR, I would concentrate my marketing dollars where they are most effective. If it's somewhere besides REALTOR.com, then they wouldn't get one red cent from me. NAR's near future focus towards it's member's online efforts is to empower them with tools that enable them to better compete with all of the third party aggregaters out there.

"Hi Todd - I'd like to see other areas of NAR, like the REALTOR® Action Center, actively engaging agents and the public with social media."

Hey John, great to hear from you! BTW, your correspondence with the Action Center crossed my desk. Thank you. This is a tough nut for me to crack. Mainly, because much of what our government affairs people do is best done backstage. We don't always want to telegraph our punches so to speak. Also, we're using social media platforms to fight anti-REALTOR/anti-homeowner legislation, but not always in NAR's name. Sometimes it's better to empower grassroots, local organizations to lead the charge. This is top of mind for us though. Thanks for you input.

"To help convince the NAR that..."

Chris, It's important for me to set the correct expectation here. I'm trying to open the lines of communication, not be a spokesman for NAR, or a spokesman to them. Do you get my drift? There's lots of comments in this thread that you all feel under served by NAR. You are NAR. The only way to change who NAR represents is for more of you to get involved. I know this is not a popular thing for me to say, and that it won't change things overnight, but hoping for me to be that agent of change is only going to lead to disappointment. You all need to do that.

I understand what you mean. I blog on AR; however, it's mostly geared toward my outside blog. I've made a few "friends" on AR, but turned one off when she sent me a MEME & I forwarded it back to her in my post - LOL. That's a great way to alienate someone. Anyway, I'm an AR member who is not too involved with other AR members, but love to read the posts and use the site to further my business. Welcome back!

"NAR provides information, training, and government affairs, but I'm not sure they promote the industry effectively. How are they educating the general public about the industry? "

Marci, NAR is launching a multi-million dollar, consumer focused website this fall that's designed to help people make better decisions about the issues facing homeowners. I wish I could say more. It's very cool.

In addition, one of my long term goals is to help REALTORs become more proficient with social media so that THEY can be those local trusted sources. Imagine if even 10% of REALTORs actively used social media to better inform the public at large.

How does a blog fail? I think the person running it doesn't keep it current and put things out that people want to read. I think that there is a 'chasm' between NAR and member realtors at the moment. Both on current & future policies. I've noticed that NAR has a group blog going and I enjoy reading market stats there. That's the only thing I really pay attention too. I can't say I feel that I get ANYTHING for my dues money. I actually feel that NAR lags behind the membership. An example is you right here! Hello, you just figured out AR is here? Twitter too? Yikes. NAR reminds me of a 'dinosaur' seeing a cell phone for the first time!

Before this gets uglier, let me add to my "nice post" comment earlier.

Todd is a leader in blogging and in community building. He's been using this stuff pretty much longer than 98% - no, 99% of EVERYONE here at ActiveRain and in the real estate related space at large. He did not just discover anything. He's been showing it to us for years. If you have been active in blogging and social media in the past 4 years or so, you probably would have heard of him by now. He's kind of a big deal.

The NAR job is new. It didn't even exist until, what, February 2009? I'm not going to revisit the hubub over what it means that NAR hired a social media person - again, if you don't know anything about that, you weren't paying attention to your industry.

Todd's here, now, to connect with you guys and has very openly asked what he can do to help, to see what's on your minds, and to generally be inolved. By all means, tell this guy what's on your mind, your concerns, your hopes, where you see things could be better, where they're doing okay already. But don't confuse the crazy ninja skills of Todd with the legacy of the organization he now works for - and WE are that organization. So help him out - he works for us. He'll return the favor.

And now that my protective mama reflex has been satisfied, hopping back off the thread...

Stopping back by....Like kelley above me mentioned, Todd hasn't just discovered AR. He has been here for a long time. He may not have used it fully to his advantage over the last 11months, but the guy knows social media. Why else would NAR hire him to be the director of it? While we all may agree that NAR doesn't always use forward thinking, one place they did this was by hiring Todd!

The reason Todd is back here is to help educate you the members of NAR & AR on ways to use Social media. When he opened up for suggestions/comments, it wasn't to discuss NAR & issues with it, it was to learn what the needs of members are and how he can share his knowledge & also the actions NAR is taking to use social media to increase business.

Todd, as a Broker Manager for the office, I will be happy to keep you informed as to what our agents need and want from NAR in regards to social networking. Right now I think the majority of agents would just like someone to help them make sense of it all.

Todd,

Welcome back. Looking forward to your updates and posts

A game plan for newer agents (and some older ones) to make use of social networking for business would be helpful. We've had many here, but I don't know if they work in all markets, in al areas.

We're a funny bunch, eh? So glad you are back, tcar! Obviously there is some confusion and yes, strong opinions about NAR & REALTOR.com...but back to you - you've come at SM from the grass roots and not much time was spent here on AR (comparatively). Just goes to show that there is a lot more out there. Hint for newbies: It's simpler here and you will get more mileage from your efforts here - in my experience.

How can you, tcar, connect here? Blog and comment. Your blogs are going to have a lot more weight due to your earned expertise. You won't have any problem connecting now that you are so well established.

Good job and glad you are here (again).

P.S. If you aren't following @tcar on twitter, you should. Very helpful person to follow!

"A game plan for newer agents (and some older ones) to make use of social networking for business would be helpful."

William, that's what we're attempting to do with our REALTOR Magazine webinar series. An additional webinar is planned for the end of the month.

Todd,

Good to have you back and from a great vantage point such as NAR. :)

Steve

Does that mean I have to go back to my AR profile? Damn the things you make me do!

**still laughing at Kelley's "Nice Post" comment :)

Todd - Great to have you here! I have enjoyed getting to know more about your musical tastes via Blip.fm. I look forward to seeing you around more often!

Hey, Todd. Nice to see you on AR. This is a big week for the Rain - You and the Zebra crashing through the cobwebs in the same 7 day period!

Sounds like you're just as enthusiastic about your position today as you were your official first day on the job at ReBAR camp Virginia this past March. Love the teasers on the new tools NAR's working on.

Where's the RT button???? Now, if Jason's comment didn't just explain how down to earth (and normal real) Todd is...Nothing can!

just a bit of Bad timing tcar. Glad to have you on board. Been following you on Twitter since i joined in I think March. I am LoveTheGulfRE there. But you decided to pop back on here, when there are alot of agents here a little ticked off at NAR for supporting Cap & Trade. And i think you are unfairly catching some flack for that. Given the current climate I would recommend reading the top blog posts here and the discussions that ensue as a result. I think keeping your finger on the pulse here will tell you more about the group, than any individual will.

I just joined all these social media sites, and My head is still swimming, trying to keep them straight, trying to remember how each one works, and which one is geared towards what AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH

Twitter I find to be best as an information service. I buiilt my following by following NAR realtormag infocentralnar FAR PRO, all are core real estate institutions in my business. as a result I immediately hit 2000 following and am currently at about 1600 followers, and growing every day.

So far this site has had the most impact on my business. I think BrokerAgentSocial.com will come in second. it only has 20,000, of which i have no idea how many are actually active, but a good site too.

But I love that my national, state & local Board/association send tweets directly to my phone. I am the first in the now in my office, which i point out everytime i get a tweet at our office meetings, because nobody else is involved in it

and again, glad you deicded to give it another try. You mentioned failure, but all that is is a valuable learning tool. A feather in the cap. Keep on Trucking ;-)

anybody interested in connecting can find me at

http://ActiveRain.com/DanHunter
http://www.Twitter.com/LoveTheGulfRE
http://www.FaceBook.com/daniel.j.hunter personal site

http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=74623532832#/pages/httpAgentListingWebsitescom/74623532832 business page
http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/DanielJHunter
http://www.BrokerAgentSocial.com/DeeJayH

I'm fortunate to be able to call Todd my friend and AR is fortunate to have him participating in the network for all members benefit (AR and NAR). He is as knowledgeable and passionate about this industry as anyone.

Everyone has their gripes about NAR, including Todd. He did what most people don't, and got involved...laid his cards on the table and went after a position I thought he had no chance in hell in getting. I'm glad I was wrong.

Now enagage him mercilessly! Just remember he's not a pinata, although he has been known to wear a sombrero from time to time...

Interesting avatar Todd.

I posted above, THEN read back through all the posts. You'd better have a shield with that superhero outfit Todd. I remember your posts from before so welcome back.

The common thread that MOST of us seem to feel is that NAR is almost like ""big brother" -- watching out for the status quo. That's my feeling. I don't see much cutting edge / movement to be ahead of the curve. Most of us who've been blogging for years feel comfortable with social media and see how it works /its benefits.

That said, the backlash you're seeing is a lot of anger over realtor.com and the way that site runs. I know move.com runs it but as a broker who just ended a 2 year paid contract for SHOWCASE listings I say it was a waste of thousands of dollars I should have spent elsewhere. I tried it and after I was locked in regretted it.

NAR should be saying to us, "What can we do for you?" just like you are Todd.

"That's my feeling. I don't see much cutting edge / movement to be ahead of the curve."

Erica, I'm not convinced any association of over one million members would be able to oporate ahead of the curve. But NAR sees the value in engaging those members who are. That's one reason they hired me.

Good luck Todd!

Todd,

Good to have you back in a new role for the NAR. Keep everyone posted on what's going on over there, and elsewhere.

Heck, there goes the neighborhood. I am sure you're one of the good guys but I really have no use for NAR. They have sold us down the river so many times starting with Realtor.com. I want get started in the disappointment I have because MAMA always said if you can't say something good about someone or something then best leave it alone.

I leave it up to all the others to sugar coat with nicieties while hiding their true feeling as well. But hey it's all good and good luck.

If you did nothing else aside from organize the RE Bar Camp movement, you would be a cool guy... And you did more! Maybe you can slap a little reality into the Realtorsauruses at NAR...

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